Durabrand Surround Sound System With DVD Player STS75E

[vhelp]

Hi guys,

I picked me up a 5.1 Suround Sound Home Theater system, and so far, I am enjoying
it. I liked it because of it's small price and it's small sub-speaker.. it wasn't
a huge piece of junk to trolly around.



-- -- -- Durabrand Surround Sound System With DVD Player STS75E -- -- --
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- @ Wal-Mart's $88 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -

So far, I've played in it:

* The Fifth Element
* Once Bitten
* Halloween

And so far, I'm happy w/ it. I can't complain at this time

There was an Surround Sound system at K-Mart that I heard that sounded realy good,
while the movie Spiderman was playing in it at the time. Someone had it turned
up pretty loud, (though here at home, I can't turn it up so loud since i'm in an
apt'mt, and suffered an issue w/ a tenant a few years ago w/ a different SSS) Anyways..
It grabbed my attention, and drew me like a magnet. I decided that it was time to
look into a new SSS. So, I did. Anyways.., I think that each movie is DTS in
various way/quality. That Spiderman movie's DTS sounded really good, vs. my
The Fifth Element's. So, I think I'll get the Spiderman DVD and test it out for
myself on my new SSS and see for myself, if it WAS the movie's DTS process or
just my SSS. Still, I can't complain. At that $88 price, I couldn't go wrong.
Also, I realize that DTS sound will be better appreciated when the volumne is
high enough. When it's low, you don't get the "full" effect because some sounds
are quite low.
.
.
I also found out that the DTS track is different then the Stereo or 2.1 channel
sound. ie, I found sounds on The Fifth Element, that were present in the 2.1
channel, but not the same or in it, in the 5.1 DTS, and vise-versa. So, there is
different sounds in either of options.

I've found that when I select the 5.1 DTS on the DVD menu, the SS come in pretty
clear, but when (on average) it's just talking or not much excitement, sound is
mostly heared through the center speakers and LF/RT as well. But, the rears are
mostly silent. Obviously, each DVD 5.1 DTS sound will be dependent upon who
actually processes the movie sound track best. I have MANY dvd titles to test
and play with.

Q - Does anyone have any movies they want tested or just out of curiosity, advice,
compare or recommend trying ??

The Durabrand has other modes (or similated modes) of SS or variations, but ONLY
during the DVD's 2.1 setup. When the DVD's 5.1 DTS track is selected, all other
SS simulations are disabled - for obvious reasons

During DVD menu 2.1 Setup:
* Prologic (EMU)
* Matrix
* Music
* Movie
* By Pass (5.1 or 2.1)

During DVD menu 5.1 DTS Setup:
* 5.1 DTS sound

I found you can change the tracks setup (ie, 2.1 vs. 5.1) when you press the
remotes Audio button (at bottom right) - (rather than stopping play of movie to
change this) The manual says to stop the play and then change the DVD tracks.
I found the above technique by accident.

Again, I realize that to fully enjoy the 5.1 DTS of any DVD movie, you have to
have the sound up loud - within reason. On mine, I found that if I had the volume
digit at 28, I was happy ..but w/ my two/three pc's going, and my fan and
heater motors going, it's a little hard to appreciate if volume is too low.

Well, for the price, I can't complain, and I will continue to toy around w/ this
system.

Any comments (pros/cons) are welcomed.

From the desk of,
-vhelp 2059

[c_hernandez32]

I have the Durabrand SSS alone. Its pretty good. I chose the SSS alone because I had a DVD/VCR and wanted to use it rather than having to buy another DVD player and having to connect the DVD/VCR. Also the SSS has a rating of 200W, compared to the 100W of the DVD/SSS combo.

The only problem is that for some odd reason, you can not force 5.1 surround on stereo tracks-either VCR, TV, or DVD. Could something be wrong? I like the appearance on mine, and the price is right.

As for DTS audio, I don't have the time or patience to listen to varying sounds. But I can tell you this-play LOTR and wait for the part where the bad guy dies in the beginning (Sauran-spelling?). If you raise the volume really high on the Bass, you hear this loud room shaking rumble-AWESOME! Also, where Frodo and Gandof are in Bag-End (Spelling?) you hear a crow and it sounds like the crow is right next to you.

I love its ease of use, no need to adjust 15Khz, 10Khz, etc, etc... Just connect the speakers, and connect the DVD player.

[vhelp]

I'm un-aware of other units (not seen) in Wal-Mart by Durabrand. This store
only had this model, and I was looking for a SSS for a while now, to replace
my pathetic Sound Blaster 5.1 foney dts sound. Only good thing on that old
card (2+ years) is the echo/reverb/acoustics sound you can add to your
listening pleasure. That's about all I miss it that card.
.
.
This makes my 4th DVD player now.

If your VCR (during play) has DolbySuround (it's Dolby Suround 2.1) will
give you 2 spkrs and sub-woofer sound, while if you press the 5.1/2.1
button, and elect 5.1 SS for instance. This is untested on my end here,
but according to my instruction booklet, it should work similar to yours.

Remember, my receiver is Prologic II (there's no Prologic I)

Also, on mine, if I want the true 5.1 DTS sound, I have to make sure that
I select this sound setup in the DVD movie menu (IF the feature is their for
THAT movie) otherwise, I have the other 5 I listed above SS silimation I
believe.

-vhelp 2073